Speaking to ANF Amed Bar Association President Abdulkadir Güleç said that the lack of a solution to the Kurdish issue is the source of rights violations, and added that a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue must be provided first in order to eliminate these rights violations.

Güleç said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly is a declaration that guarantees and defines people’s right to life. Drawing attention to the violations in war zones, Güleç said that the international community should be more sensitive. Pointing to the past actions of the groups that became dominant after the fall of the regime in Syria, Güleç said: "They targeted people’s lives and property security. We hope that the international community and Western powers will take a serious approach and take the necessary measures to prevent harm to civilians."

Disturbing increase in human rights violations

Drawing attention to the serious problems in the prisons of a country like Turkey, which is a member of the Council of Europe, and has signed the European Convention on Human Rights and accepted the ECHR, Güleç continued: "650 seriously ill prisoners are still being held in prison. While they should be released as soon as possible, their right to access health is very limited. If they do not have the right to access health, there is an attempt on their right to life. There is serious pressure on rights defenders in particular. Unfounded investigations and trials against lawyers continue. On the other hand, we are experiencing serious problems with press freedom. There are pressures and operations against journalists. Many people are being arrested. These practices worry us. Unfortunately, the judiciary is not independent, there are no independent courts."

Turkey failed on human rights

Güvenç said that Turkey failed in terms of rights violations, and added: "Turkey does not implement the decisions of the ECHR, whose jurisdiction it has recognized. This actually shows that Turkey has failed. I do not want Turkey to be subject to sanctions in terms of universal rights, but it needs to do what is necessary. We would like to call on the Council of Europe from here. It needs to show the necessary sensitivity regarding these rights violations. It needs to fulfill the requirements of the convention, as well as the procedure applied to states that do not implement court decisions. Unfortunately, Turkey's human rights record is shameful."

Rights violations related to the lack of solution to the Kurdish question

Drawing attention to the fact that the rights violations in Turkey are directly related to the Kurdish issue, Güleç said: "We can easily say that leaving the Kurdish issue unresolved has caused serious rights violations. If journalists are in prison today, is mainly because of the lack of a solution to the Kurdish question. The isolation policies implemented in prisons are also directly related to the lack of a solution to the Kurdish question. Firstly, in order to eliminate these rights violations, a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question must be provided. The way and method for this is clearly clear."